Wines for Every Day

Critone is one of the best-known white wine cuvées in southern Italy and combines the elegance of Chardonnay with the aromatic freshness of Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes come from well-ventilated vineyards around Cirò Marina, on calcareous flysch soils with a clay subsoil – ideal conditions for clarity and structure. The colour in the glass is pale straw yellow with a greenish tinge. The nose reveals green apple skin, citrus, some peach and fine vegetal notes. The palate is dry, clear and lively, with crisp acidity and a fine mineral vein. Maturation in stainless steel tanks emphasises the fresh, fruity character. SUPERIORE.DE

Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella, complemented by Molinara and other traditional varieties: the recipe for this Valpolicella is tried and tested, with the grapes growing on clay and limestone soils, both in the classic heartland and in the eastern part of the wine-growing region. The Tedeschi family, from Pedemonte, ages it for four months in stainless steel and then allows it to rest for two months in the bottle before it leaves the winery. A clear ruby red. Cherry, redcurrant and strawberry, with a hint of pepper. On the palate: crisp acidity, soft tannins, plenty of fruit and freshness. A Valpolicella that accompanies the entire meal without ever demanding centre stage, but rather brings the whole table together. SUPERIORE.DE

This Montepulciano from the hills of Abruzzo has a classic style and is aged in large oak barrels. Deep ruby red colour with a purple rim. Dark cherries, stewed plums, dried herbs, a hint of leather and fine spice on the nose. Round on the palate, with ripe fruit, polished tannins, well-integrated acidity and a harmonious, spicy finish. A wine full of character and at the same time accessible with a beautiful regional expression – down-to-earth, honest and wonderfully compatible. SUPERIORE.DE

The dense, well-articulated Rigoleto made predominantly from organically grown Sangiovese grapes is extremely drinkable. The bouquet beguiles with beautiful aromas of dried plums and dark cherries. Opens with a lively bouquet of wild strawberries, rhubarb, violets and crushed stones. Silky to the touch, Rigoleto has impressive weight yet wonderful energy as a wave of ripe red and blue fruit swirls under the scent of lavender and spice. SUPERIORE.DE

The eponymous hill of St. Magdalena in the north of Bolzano gives this authentic South Tyrolean classic its unmistakable character. The autochthonous Vernatsch and Lagrein grape varieties grow harmoniously side by side on the loose moraine debris soils of the historic vineyards of St. Magdalena, St. Justina and Leitach between 200-500 metres above sea level – a symbiosis that has epitomised the essence of South Tyrolean viticulture for centuries. The traditional cuvée benefits from the ideal climatic conditions of the protected slopes above Bolzano, where warm days and cool nights give the grapes their characteristic balance between fruitiness and elegance. The geological composition of the glacial debris soils ensures optimum drainage and gives the wine its typical mineral structure.

This approachable Rosso Toscana IGT hails from the higher elevations of Chianti Classico, situated around a 10th-century Romanesque parish church. The blend, sourced from the estate's own vineyards, skilfully combines the freshness and finesse of Sangiovese with the structure and smoothness of Merlot. Following separate vinification of the grape varieties, the wine is aged for ten months in French and American oak barrels.

Costamolino brings Sardinia's characterful clarity to the glass – a typical and very popular Vermentino that promises freshness and depth in equal measure. The grapes ripen on limestone and clay-rich hillsides around Selegas, where the sea breeze and sun create perfect ripening conditions. After gentle pressing and temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, the wine rests for several weeks on the fine lees – for elegance without weight and finesse without edge.

An uncomplicated Tuscan from the organically cultivated vineyards of Castello di Radda, which are south-facing on the hills behind the winery. The cuvée of 60% Merlot and 40% Sangiovese grows on clay-rich soils with a limestone content, which gives the wine its fruity and accessible character. After manual harvesting, the wine is vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with a maceration period of around ten days. The wine is matured partly in steel and partly in tonneaux, with bottling taking place in the summer after the harvest.

Deep ruby red with a violet rim. Red fruit on the nose, especially cherry and raspberry, accompanied by subtle spicy notes and a hint of liquorice. Dry, fruity and smooth on the palate, with mild acidity and light tannins that give the wine structure. The wine is matured classically in stainless steel to preserve the primary fruit flavours. A charming and accessible Montepulciano – ideal for spontaneous enjoyment or as an accompaniment to medium-weight dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

Zenato has stood for reliable quality from the Veneto region since 1960 – no experiments, but solid craftsmanship over generations. The home of this Valpolicella Superiore is the gentle vineyards in the soft hills of Valpolicella Classica, in the heart of Sant'Ambrogio. Corvina Veronese forms the backbone with 85 per cent, supplemented by Rondinella and Corvinone from the 35 hectares of own vineyards. The grapes are harvested by hand in October, de-stemmed and macerated in stainless steel for ten days before the wine matures for twelve months in large oak barrels.

Ramitello is unjustly overshadowed by Contado. Yet it is a potential favourite red wine that perfectly embodies the intensity of southern Molise. Made from 80% Montepulciano and 20% Aglianico, Ramitello matures for around 18 months, partly in barriques and partly in stainless steel tanks, followed by around six months of bottle ageing. In the glass, it has a deep ruby colour with violet reflections. The bouquet is brooding and complex: ripe plum and blackberry combine with spicy notes of leather, liquorice, eucalyptus and a hint of coffee. The palate shows excellent balance: dense fruit, structured, grippy tannins and a long, fruit-accentuated finish that is characterised by tension and naturalness. This wine epitomises the authentic power of Molise – unaffected, terroir-precise and at the same time impressively harmonious. SUPERIORE.DE

The Cantina della Volta is located on a section of the Naviglio di Bomporto canal – the place where river trains used to have to turn round before continuing towards Modena. La Volta means the turn, the hairpin bend. Not an inappropriate name for a frizzante that also goes its own way. 100% Lambrusco di Sorbara from the alluvial soils of the Secchia river, hand-picked in 15-kilogramme crates, cold maceration, first fermentation in steel tanks. What follows is the decisive step: the second fermentation in the bottle – bottle-fermented like a Méthode Classico, then the yeast carefully removed, crown cork. The same artisanal effort that Christian Bellei shows in his great sparkling wines – for a frizzante that should simply be a pleasure to drink.

The name says it all: Badilante pays tribute to the workers who, for generations, used their spades to drain and cultivate the marshy lands of the Maremma. Simone Castelli, son of the legendary OenologistMaurizio, vinifies this single-varietal Sangiovese at the organically farmed Podere 414 vineyard near Scansano. The grapes grow at an altitude of 230 metres in loamy-clay soils with a high proportion of coarse material. Spontaneous fermentation in concrete, 15–18 days’ maceration with délestage and remontage, followed by ageing partly in concrete and partly in wood.

This approachable Rosso Toscana IGT hails from the higher elevations of Chianti Classico, situated around a 10th-century Romanesque parish church. The blend, sourced from the estate's own vineyards, skilfully combines the freshness and finesse of Sangiovese with the structure and smoothness of Merlot. Following separate vinification of the grape varieties, the wine is aged for ten months in French and American oak barrels.